Ch 50 - Travellers
It had been over a year since Lan Zhan and Wei Ying had left the complex world of Sect politics behind them. Technically Lan Zhan was still the leader of the entire Cultivation Community as he hadn't stepped down before they left, neither had anyone sent any messages asking him to do so, however neither of them had even thought about politics since the day they left Lotus Pier and it had been a refreshing time for them both. The day after the four men had all bowed together in the Jiang family temple Wei Ying and Lan Zhan had left with the minimum amount of fuss. There was only Jiang Cheng, Lan XiChen and of course SiZhui there to see them off, but that's the way they liked it. No one wanted it to be huge deal that they were taking time away, and no one wanted to feel that it was a farewell instead of a goodbye. Wei Ying had turned back once as the boat they were on sailed away, and saw XiChen wrapping his arm around SiZhui. He hadn't been able to help himself but smile, after all his son would be well cared for in his absence.
Although they could have flown on Lan Zhan's sword they had both agreed that if were going to explore the world they would do it the right way, ergo the slow way. Therefore they spent their days walking along busy roads, travelling by boat or sometimes by horse, and they spent their nights in the occasional inn, abandoned temple or even just out in the open under the stars. It had been a long time since Wei Ying had slept out in the open and he wasn't sure Lan Zhan ever had, but his husband hadn't complained once as they had curled up together in a soft pile of grass.
Of course they had found their share of night hunting to do as well. Many of the cultivators from the smaller Sects would welcome their help, or just simply get out of the way, when they arrived. All the Sects by then had heard that HanGuang Jun and the YiLing Patriarch were wandering the world night hunting so if they were seen they were offered hospitality for the evening, and in Wei Ying's case of course alcohol, as a thank you. Often the two men would graciously accept the hospitality and enjoy a warm meal, hot bath and soft bed. In fact it had been on the first occasion they had been offered such hospitality that Wei Ying had realised what kind of few years they were going to have.
The small Sect had invited them back as a thank you for their help with a particularly difficult water demon which had popped up in a local towns water supply. The Sect had been trying to deal with it for a few days but was just not knowledgeable enough. Wei Ying and Lan Zhan had dealt with the demon in a matter of hours, solving all the problems. The Sect had wanted to give a large banquet in their honour but had backed off the idea when the two had said they were tired and would rather just eat before retreating to their assigned room. The walk to the room was refreshing in the early evening air but Wei Ying couldn't help his lips curling up at the corners at where they were being taken. Luckily he managed to wait until the doors were shut and the guide had left before bursting into uncontrollable laughter.
'I don't think they could have put us more out the way Er-ge' He managed to get out between snorts. 'Unless of course they put us in the stables.'
Lan Zhan rolled his eyes but moved towards the large bath positioned at one side of the room. He dipped his hand in it to check the temperature and obviously seemed satisfied as he began stripping of his outer garments ready to get in…..however Wei Ying wasn't quite finished teasing.
'Maybe they think we stink to much to be in the main house….'he mused loudly. 'Or maybe they have heard that Er-ge is not exactly a gentleman in bed!'
With the last sentence Lan Zhan's hands had paused for a moment before a small smile had crept to the corners of him lips and resumed undressing. Lan Zhan hadn't said anything to his husbands teasing, but once he was out the bath and dried off he had made sure that Wei Ying was glad they were far enough away from the main house not to be heard. Lan Zhan was quite happy to be as 'Ungentlemanly in bed' as Wei Ying wanted.
They had also seen sights that neither of them had thought possible before venturing out on their journey, or things they only just read about. Lan Zhan of course was a lot more widely read than Wei Ying, who even now still really only read porn, but some of the places were breath-taking. One place they had seen early on was a snow covered mountain in the peak of summer, the mountain must have been higher than anything they had seen before to still be that cold even when the land about them was experiencing doubt from the heat. Another was a waterfall which seemed to feed a lake. The lake looked about the size of the one at Lotus Pier while the waterfall looked similar to the one at Gusu. What surprised both men however was how warm, hot even, the water was. They had both by then gotten used to washing in streams when an inn couldn't be found but this lake seemed to be the temperature of bathwater and yet it was so large. Neither of them had been able to work out how it was heated so naturally yet that hadn't stopped them stripping down and enjoying a few hours soaking and bathing in the wonder.
The third wonder had obviously been man-made but it was in an area that neither of them had even read about. The local people they had come across had called the place the 'village of the ancestors' so naturally they had gone to investigate thinking there maybe a hunt. What they hadn't expected was a settlement the size of a small village, only all made of stone. Some buildings were obviously houses but others were less easy to tell, even the remnants of wooden doors hung off some of the doorways. However it was plainly obvious that the place had not been lived in for years, maybe centuries, and yet the people who had built it had been able to build such things from stone. Wei Ying and Lan Zhan had both been interested enough to speak to the Elders of the village about the settlement, however all they knew is that it had been built by the ancestors long before their own village had sprung up. Eventually interest in the new and exciting for Wei Ying, and the promise of a night hunt for Lan Zhan, had meant the two had moved on.
'Wei Ying!'
Lan Zhan's voice broke Wei Ying out of his reverie and back to the present. The two were currently huddled together under a tree in the middle of a glade. The view of the stars was beautiful at this time of night and they had been travelling all day without seeing another soul, as if it were just the two of them in the whole world. Lan Zhan's hand tightened around his husbands shoulder and Wei Ying leant further in, feeling that natural warmth, strength and heartbeat. The moon shone down on the pair of them as if it was almost designed for this moment and this place.
The crackle of the fire at their feet provided the only sound, even the animals seemed to have vacated the area in which they sat. A pool of warmth and earthly brightness as they both looked up and the heavenly brightness above. They hadn't had a hunt now for a few weeks but both men were enjoying the rest and the exploration. The last time they had stayed in an inn was nearly a week ago so neither of them looked particularly pristine. Even Lan Zhan's ever clean robes were showing the wear and tear from the journey, as well as a few stains here and there. Wei Ying had teased him a few times already that the almighty HanGuang Jun now looked just like a normal person, but Lan Zhan had just ignored him. Of course they both carried plenty of changes of clothes and other essentials in their quinkin bags, but while they were out living in nature like this there was no point using them.
'What are you thinking about?' Lan Zhan asked honestly.
'Nothing much…...just some of the things we have done in the last year.' Wei Ying answered snuggling closer. 'I have really enjoyed this journey Er-ge.'
'As have I' Lan Zhan replied, resting his chin on top of Wei Ying's head.
The two stayed like that for an unknown amount of time, breathing in the crisp air and enjoying the moonlight. Then at length Lan Zhan spoke again.
'Have you forgotten what anniversary it is today Wei Ying?'
Wei Ying froze slightly at the question. It wasn't their wedding anniversary…...it wasn't the anniversary of when they adopted SiZhui…...his death…his resurrection…..it wasn't even the anniversary of when he first met Lan Zhan at the Cloud Recess…...he had no clue what his husband was meaning. Unable to come up with an answer he could only shake his head and hope he hadn't forgotten something really important.
Lan Zhan squinted a little but looked like he never expected Wei Ying to remember anyway. Slowly the hand round Wei Ying's shoulders drifted downwards…...following his spine through his clothing…..downwards until the long, strong fingers cupped his ass with what was now a practised movement. Wei Ying didn't react to the move as having his husbands hand on his ass was as normal as breathing by now, however he nearly jumped six feet in the air out of sheer shock when Lan Zhan leaned in and whispered one word in his ear.
'Meadow'